This flag is rare and
special for many reasons. The flag dates to
Washington statehood in 1889. An unofficial star
count, it only lasted for 243 days from November 11,
1889 until the introduction of Idaho on July 3, 1890.
The flag's construction is beautiful and unique among
surviving examples of 42 star flags. The silk of
the flag is brittle, but the flag itself is remarkably intact.
The deep blue of the canton provides stark contrast to
the bright gold painted stars. The stars in the
medallions are compact and carefully aligned so that one
tip points to the center of the next star in the wreath.
Each arm of the stars is highlighted with a highlighting
paint to make them stand out even more. Close
inspection reveals that the flag initially began as a 38
star flag produced prior to November 2, 1889, when North
Dakota (38) and South Dakota (39) were admitted to the
Union. The maker of the flag added the four center
stars that flank the central star in order to update the
count to 42. The gilt of the four added stars is
slightly brighter, and the accenting paint along the
arms of the added stars are a different shade of yellow-green
than that of the original 38 stars. The maroon-red and cream-white coloration of the stripes is
particularly beautiful, well complementing the dark
royal blue
canton and gold stars.
The use of the flag is
unknown, though its form, with gold painted stars on
silk, is generally indicative of a military usage. In
its day, this kind of construction and the materials used
to make the flag
were the most expensive of any kind of manufactured American flag. It
is a small flag, at just two feet on the hoist by three
feet on the fly. It may have been used as a
military standard by active units in the American West
during the Indian Wars, or as a ceremonial flag for a
veteran unit from the Civil War. Although the
weighted silk of the flag is now brittle, great care has
been taken to preserve the flag. Some areas of
loss have been backed with matching colored silks, and
the flag has been carefully pressure-mounted to prevent
further damage or deterioration. It remains in a
remarkably intact state and is beautiful to behold. |
